As temperatures begin to drop, Texas gardeners need to start planning and preparing their gardens for the seasonal changes.
“Wetter and cooler weather is expected as we head into the November gardening season,” said Larry Stein, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist in horticulture, Uvalde, and professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Horticultural Sciences. “Now is the time for gardeners to think about their cold protection plan.”
A protection plan helps gardeners prepare their plants and yards to survive colder weather, whatever month may arrive in your part of Texas.
The ease in a cold season is usually easier for the plants when the temperatures continuously fall, but with the erratic weather that Texas can have, it can be more of a rollercoaster of temperatures. It pays to be aware of how resistant the plants are and if they are suitable for your region before planting.
Even well-established plants that have done well in the past may be under additional stress due to drier and warmer conditions earlier in the year or if they have been subjected to insect or disease stress.
Implementation of your protection plan
A plan for protecting plants from the cold should include mulch, tree stumps and plant covers as appropriate. The soil offers natural insulation, and the mulch serves as an extra layer of insulation.
The fallen leaves from the trees can be mulched up – your lawnmower can do the job – and then used to protect those same trees or other plants in your garden. The leaves can also go in your compost pile. Keep in mind that some insects spend the winter in the leaf.
Potted plants outside can be grouped and covered together as needed. Some container plants may also need to come indoors.
When the water in plant cells freezes, ice crystals form and damage the cells. Frost also impacts plants, but usually it is the top or outermost part of the plant that will take the biggest hit – unlike a freeze, which can kill the whole plant.
“Now is also the time that people should start monitoring their lawns for late-season fungal problems, which could be exacerbated by receiving too much water or rain,” Stein said.
Beyond the plants, protect the equipment
A protection plan for your garden tools and lawn equipment is also important.
Drain gasoline from power tools and run the engine until the fuel in the carburetor is used, unless you have changed to gas without ethanol. Even with ethanol-free gas, gas out of the carburetor is a good idea.
Unload and store garden hoses and irrigation equipment in an easily accessible location. The lawn and plants may need water during a prolonged dry period, so they should not be inaccessible.
Continue to be water wise
Even just half an inch-plus rains can benefit the plants of the landscape, especially in the areas of the garden and the garden that you have been able to continue to water. Despite recent rains, parts of Texas remain under water restrictions, and flows continue to drop.
“Unfortunately, such spotty and scattered rains do not end the water challenges, and we need to continue to provide as much help as we can to the most valuable plants in our landscape,” said Stein.
He said that as we move into the cooler months, it is preferable if the drop of leaves is normal, instead of being caused by drought. Plants that lose their leaves to drought lose access to the nutrients they need too quickly. Once the plants are dormant, they can go about six weeks before needing water.
November gardening tips
Enjoy eating cold crops
When the temperatures cool, your cold crops will develop the first quality food.
Don’t let an orange khaki fool you
The full color of persimmons add color to landscapes, but just because astringent persimmons turn orange does not mean they are ripe; a slight rush seems to accelerate this process.
An orange doesn’t have to be completely orange to be happy
Citrus is another pop of color for gardens and yards as the weather changes. Most citrus fruits do not need to be completely orange for the first quality to eat.
Get your greens
Now is the time for bi-weekly planting of salad greens, such as lettuce, kale, chard, spinach and the like.
The plant containers, wait on the bare roots
Container trees and shrubs can be planted; wait until January to plant bare root.
Select and plant the appropriate annuals
If you haven’t done so, now is the ideal time to select and plant annuals such as pansies, violets, ornamental cabbage and kale.
Think ahead for spring color
Plan now for your spring blooming season with a mix of annuals and perennials.
Pause on the pruning
You are not in a hurry to prune and wood plants. Late December to February is usually the best time for pruning.
Order seeds to keep your options open
Place your order for seeds this month, so you’ll have them available when you’re ready to plant. By ordering first, you will be more sure to get the varieties you want. In addition to ordering the seeds you are already familiar with, try a few new types every year to expand the contents of the garden.
Bring the flowers home late
Bring late-season plants like decorative kalanchoes or Christmas cactus so they can finish blooming in the warmth of the house.
Reduce fertilizer as needed
Reduce the fertilization of indoor plants from the end of October to the middle of March. An exception would be plants in an atrium or a well-lit window.
-30-
Outstanding feature